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Floral Design Flower Arranging - Elements and Principles Flower Arranging is a fully realized art form through which we can express our personal feelings, ideas and individual choices, hopefully evoking an emotional response from the viewer. Flowers placed in a vase without any particular design are intrinsically beautiful, but the same flowers, arranged according to the basic principles of design, become a work of art. All artists in any endeavor, using any medium, apply the Elements and Principles of Design when creating their work. These are factors already found in nature and given names and definitions by man. |
Elements of Design
Color |
This is the first thing one notices about a floral design. Do the colors work together or do they seem unrelated? It is best to use either all pastels or all brights as these groups are hard to mix together. Choose a harmonious mix of colors close together on the color wheel such as red, orange and yellow or green, blue and purple. For a more powerful effect, chose opposing colors such as purple and orange. Study a color wheel to help understand how colors work together.
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Form |
This is the overall shape of the design. Usually, it is a three dimensional geometric form such as a sphere, pyramid or cube (square or rectangle). Consider the shapes of the individual blossoms themselves; roses are round, irises are triangular, snapdragons are elongated triangles, and lilies are a circular arrangement of small triangles. A combination of different forms will create interest. They can emphasize the form chosen for the overall design.
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Line
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Natural material such as stems, branches and leaves have inherent linear features. These lines create the framework of the composition. A straight vertical placement provides a static and stable line, while a slanted or cascading placement creates a dynamic and moving line. It is important to pay close attention to the relationship between all of the composition’s linear elements. They must work together to produce the arranger’s desired effect. Careful pruning of unnecessary leaves and shoots helps to strengthen the line.
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Space
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Space in a floral design is three dimensional, as opposed to a painting where it is two dimensional. An arrangement must fit well in the space where it is to be viewed. The space within the design itself is usually divided between areas filled with plant material and empty shapes created by linear elements; for example, the open space between the limbs of a branch. Negative and positive spaces are of equal importance in making the design interesting.
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Texture
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The diverse surface quality of each different material in a design creates textural interest. Juxtaposition of shiny and dull, rough and smooth, coarse and fine, regular and irregular material makes the arrangement exciting, evoking the tactile senses e.g. consider the multi-petaled Zinnia with the large smooth overlapping petals of a rose.
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Principles of Design
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Balance
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Balance, both visually and physically, is a critical factor to the arrangement’s staying power. Balance can be achieved both symmetrically and asymmetrically. Imagine a vertical line through the center of the design. Are the two sides visually balanced? Does one side seem heavier or more important than the other? The same material need not be used on both sides but needs to be of equal importance. A larger negative space can balance a smaller filled space.
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Contrast
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Visual excitement is created by differing materials placed together. Contrast can be achieved through color, shape, size and texture. The play of these elements provides interest throughout the design.
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Dominance
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A clear decision is made to make a certain material predominate in the design. It can be a special flower, texture or color. It may also be the illustrious “focal point.” It might be the form of the design itself or the spaces within. The special interest feature should be accented or supported by its subordinate elements. To create a well-designed whole, be careful that the special feature does not “over dominate” the rest of the design.
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Proportion
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This is the relationship of size and quality between all materials in a design. Is the container a good size for the plant material? Consider the choice of a rose or King Protea in a crystal bud vase. Is the finished arrangement in proportion to its surroundings? Consider a cache pot on the hall table versus a monumental garden urn. Are the materials in the arrangement proportional to each other? Consider a combination of Babies Breath with hanging Heliconia. Are there enough Daisies mixed in with the Babies Breath, or are they overpowered by the small white blossoms?
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Rhythm
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Rhythm gives vitality and excitement to an arrangement. It is the path your eyes follow through the total design. Rhythm is movement through size gradation, repetition of color or material and linear direction. If the beautiful sinuous line of a large calla lily is abruptly interrupted by an ill-placed leaf, the eye is jolted out of the composition and not sure how to return.
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Scale
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Scale is the size relationship of the smallest material to all other elements of the design. Too much diversity of size will affect the success of the design. Consider trying to put a sunflower in a teacup or babies breath combined again with the Lobster Claw Heliconia.
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